The forward prospects are so unimpressive, I sure hope Shero changes his strategy of bringing in Richard Parks to back-fill the lineup, and instead trades for some prospects who can bring new energy and compete to the lineup.

KG wrote:Is the lack of prospects/pens draft picks playing in the lineup more to do with the coach/gm "win now with veterans" approach or is there really a lack of quality in the organeyezation?

It's their draft position. The Red Wings are in the same boat as we are in terms of draft picking (picking after 20 for ~ 4 years). We've had 6 guys since Staal who have seen any sort of NHL ice, Detroit's only had 4.

KG wrote:Is the lack of prospects/pens draft picks playing in the lineup more to do with the coach/gm "win now with veterans" approach or is there really a lack of quality in the organeyezation?

I'm not going to answer the question directly. I question our scouting department at times. Guys like Ekbom, Bathgate, Pierro-Zabotel, etc. just shows a lack of knowledge really...you can counter that with some good guys that might turn out in recent drafts, maybe...but all in all, I don't think that our scouting staff is even average and it really could hinder us down the road.

Yes and yes. The Pen's certainly don't lack for organizational depth on defense. And their drafting looks good when you consider Despres, Morrow, and Harrington in the potential top 4 within a few years, with Bortuzzo and Strait working to find time in the lineup too. However, there are half as many available roster spots on defense as at forward. The end result is a bottle-neck on defense, with a dirth of forward depth.

Who gets called up next year when injury strikes? Cal O'Reilly? What happens when Cooke, Dupuis, Adams, Kennedy all go up for free agency next summer? We don't want to be filling those roles with UFA's... Maybe Tangradi, Vitale, and Jeffrey can fill those roles; but the cupboard is exceptionally bare with young forwards to take advantage of opportunities in the lineup.

pcm wrote:Yes and yes. The Pen's certainly don't lack for organizational depth on defense. And their drafting looks good when you consider Despres, Morrow, and Harrington in the potential top 4 within a few years, with Bortuzzo and Strait working to find time in the lineup too. However, there are half as many available roster spots on defense as at forward. The end result is a bottle-neck on defense, with a dirth of forward depth.

Who gets called up next year when injury strikes? Cal O'Reilly? What happens when Cooke, Dupuis, Adams, Kennedy all go up for free agency next summer? We don't want to be filling those roles with UFA's... Maybe Tangradi, Vitale, and Jeffrey can fill those roles; but the cupboard is exceptionally bare with young forwards to take advantage of opportunities in the lineup.

Well stated. The defense will be bottlenecked for a while now while we continue to struggle to find suitable wingers.